Colonization first. You could say that the British, the French and the Spanish colonized the land mass that is now called the continental United States.

The British surrendered control to the new Republic. The French were bought out (The Louisiana Purchase) and I am not sure why the Spanish left. Maybe they couldn't find gold out west and gave up.

I consider myself a Native American as I was born on US soil.

As anywhere in the world where there is a conflict of interest over land and resources between parties, the one with superior numbers and technology always wins. I am not saying it is good or bad, it just "is".

I look at it as more of a social and cultural Darwinism than what you describe as "genocide and slavery". The westward expansion of US citizens certainly did not have bloodthirst in mind.

Immigration makessense if it benefits the home country. The UAE is a great example. We expats come here, and under strict rules and regulations, work hard for a few years, hope to save some money and go back home. The country ends up better for our efforts and skills.

We do have a few mandated benefits, but they are small and not intended to keep us around past our usefulness. I think this is a good immigration policy and the UAE has to do this as the native Emiratis are outnumbered 40 to 1 by immigrants.

In the US, an illegal, pregnant Mexican woman only has to give birth to her child on US soil and the child is automatically a US citizen for life.

Believe me, these births are arranged. The US has a huge social safety net that will take care of them. There is proposed legislation in Washington that is designed to remedy this loophole that is being taken advantage of.

Lax immigration laws of the past are being revised by many countries because of the "not what I can do for the country, but what can the country do for me" attitude of a growing number of immigrants.

When immigration becomes a liability, the doors will shut. Same in the UAE, when I outlive my usefulness, I will be deported. Its only fair to the Emeratis, I don't wish to be a burden.

Theimmigrants you personally know may not fit into the category, but the mere fact that it is harder to obtain US citizenship in the past few decades is proof that more and more wannabees have the wrong attitude, and us Native Americans are tired of it. Its happening in many European countries too.

As far as my Muslim taxi driver in Hartford, Connecticut a few years ago, he was only one of about 30 other Muslim taxi drivers who would agree to stop by a store so I could get a six-pack of beer to take to my hotel room. I was honest and told the dispatcher what my intentions were.

He announced my desire over the radio and everyone of the drivers in the cue refused. Finally the dispatcher said he found a guy but I had to meet him away from the taxi queue of his peers, so I did.

He duly stopped by a convenience store and when I came back with a 6-pack of Bud, he told me to put it in the trunk. The driver knew I was not going to stiff him because I left my luggage and valuables in the taxi. I should have been more worried about him running off.

When we got to the hotel, I tried to give him a generous tip because I felt he had taken a chance of getting his ass whupped by his brethren if they found out he transported alcohol. He told me to keep my fucking stinking money. That's when I got pissed-off!

This was the way I was treated in my own country by an immigrant. He was the agent of a government regulated taxi company that existed to serve the public without discrimination. Yet here I was refused carriage by his Muslim brothers and insulted by him.

I wasn't the only one this happened to. The same thing was big news in Chicago when a Flight Attendant was refused a taxi ride because she carried a bottle of wine from her trip to Italy. Muslim taxi drivers also refused to let seeing-eye dogs for the blind into their taxis because they were considered "unclean".

The government had to step in and the madness was finally stopped. Hopefully the Muslim immigrants found employment more suitable to their temperament.

This would have never happened in the UAE to an Emirati or the lot would be on the next flight eastward. AS IT SHOULD BE!!!!

As we are so small, protection is needed if we want us, as an ethnic group, made up of many ethnic groups, to survive.

HOWEVER, the open door policy of the US is wrong, and the closed door policy of the UAE could be our undoing in the future.

The UAE will, I suspect in the coming 15 years, place ground rules for naturalization, under strict guidelines, and that will be a good move.

Both ways are killing our respective countries.

the UAE has to do this as the native Emiratis are outnumbered 40 to 1 by immigrants.

MIgrants, not immigrants. Legally different!

In the US, an illegal, pregnant Mexican woman only has to give birth to her child on US soil and the child is automatically a US citizen for life. Believe me, these births are arranged. The US has a huge social safety net that will take care of them.

For sure they are arranged! I knew poor native born Americans who couldnt afford health care while these illegal immigrants were handed the same for free because their kid was just born in AZ. Not right. Not at all.

The immigrants you personally know may not fit into the category, but the mere fact that it is harder to obtain US citizenship in the past few decades is proof that more and more wannabees have the wrong attitude, and us Native Americans are tired of it.

Very true. Just to have the US' political protection when they want it and to curse the US, white Americans, and everything the US is when it suits them. Very true.

Wow Ace, I am flattered, not to mention a bit flabbergasted that you honoured my late-in-the-day comment on your post on immigration with a full post in response. I have to honestly say that I do not entirely understand the point of your latest post but let us leave it that our politics are far apart. More satisfying (and the reason I read your blog) is that we do share a great interest in exploring and appreciating this fascinating part of the world as long as we are here (as I have tried to do wherever I have lived, including the US - bet I've visited more states than you). A relevant piece of American history that you don't mention is the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American war in 1848 - the blink-of-a-historical-eye ago. But for this, most of the US west of Louisiana and south of Oregon would still be Mexico. How different things might have been but for a small accident of history - which is why I don't subscribe to this idea of sealed, permanent national borders because it goes against the history and nature of humanity. Nevertheless, it is your right to believe in such things bearing in mind that it makes you a sort of bedfellow of the resident fascist provocateur of the UAE blogosphere, whose comment preceeding this one speaks for itself.

Now did you know that it is rose season in Jebel Akhdar? Roses are grown there of course to make rose-water and I believe the sights and smells, particularly in the terraced village of Al Ayn, just past Saiq, are far more intoxicating than anything you could procure at a 7/11. I haven't experienced this yet myself but I have been to Al Ayn which is amazing at any time. I may just try to make it up there next weekend (probably the last chance this year) or else wait for equally magical pomegranate season right after Ramadan (which some local friends - who of course should have known better - and I missed last year being greeted by the devastating news having arrived finally at the top of the Saiq plateau: Rumann khelas! - but so worth the trip anyway).

Aaaha, steady Ace, definitely XY here; though I don't shirk from my feminine side I'm not ready to go to that extent! In any case, it's a very long day trip from AD to Jebel Akhdar with a lot of hours in the car so I wouldn't suggest for any first date - romantic or bromantic!!

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About Me

I was born in the Southeastern U.S. and lived in a typical middle-class family. I found out at an early age that I craved excitement and doing things "outside the lines".
I was a party animal in High School and College and really enjoyed myself, I consider having fun a worthwhile life goal to this day.
I had a short career as a military officer right out of college because I didn't want to start sitting at a desk at such a young age.
What followed that was a series of boring technical jobs and marriage and settling down. Despite my urges for excitement and fun,I can be very responsible when I want to.
I was good with that for several years but the old urge for change became too strong so I got divorced early in 2008 (mutual agreement-no kids). Soon after that I received an offer to work in the Middle East(Abu Dhabi, UAE) I was there for almost 4 years and had many adventures which you can read about on my other blog Abu Dhabi Dispatches at http://expatuae.blogspot.com/
I am back in the US now and am living in Las Vegas. I always had a feeling I would end up here someday.